The More Natural the Window, the Healthier the Isolated People—A Pathway Analysis in Xi’an, China, during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study explores how windows with a green view might affect the mental health (i.e., depressive/anxiety symptoms) of home-isolated populations. An online survey was conducted among 508 adults isolated under government quarantine policies for COVID-19 emergency pandemic control between 10 and 20 January 2022 in Xi’an, China. Structural equation modeling was employed to identify the pathways from green view through windows to isolated people’s depressive/anxiety symptoms. The relative frequency of plant/water exposure through windows was associated with fewer depressive/anxiety symptoms. Home-isolated people during COVID-19 reported better mental health when they were exposed to more natural settings. These findings could inspire public health authorities to adopt nature-based solutions to mitigate the adverse mental health consequences of isolated populations during the pandemic.

Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review

“…Having a view of nature at home or in living spaces may be beneficial to mental health. Multiple studies have reported that viewing nature from the living space is positively associated with distress tolerance [ 13 ], life satisfaction [ 13 , 33 , 34 ], self-esteem [ 33 ], happiness [ 33 ], and wellbeing [ 13 ]; and inversely associated with depression [ 13 , 33 , 34 ], anxiety [ 13 , 33 , 34 ], loneliness [ 13 , 33 ], and negative affect (negative emotions) [ 35 ]. In contrast, having a limited view or no view of nature at home has been associated with experiencing depression [ 36 , 37 ] and poorer wellbeing [ 38 ].…”

“…Additionally, satisfaction with greenspace has been associated with positive mental health [ 47 ] and quality of life [ 48 ]. Many of the studies which presented these findings were undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 13 , 33 , 34 , 37 , 43 ], a time of greater distress and when stay-at-home measures may have been implemented. Therefore, these findings should be confirmed when the population is not in a crisis situation.…”

The pandemic readiness assessment of building design and engineering service-related legislation in Kazakhstan and the EU

“…It clearly indicates a need to adapt the construction norms. In addition, even though both legislative systems fully address the MH1, the inclusion of plants and gardens indicator, many studies emphasize the importance of green spaces for mental health during pandemics (Bi et al. , 2022; García Flores and Ordoñez Díaz, 2022; Maury-Mora et al.…”

The two-year epidemiological investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the nomadic population of Fars province, Southern Iran: An ecological study (February 20, 2020, to February 19, 2022)

“…Recent studies have underscored the heightened vulnerability of certain nomadic populations, such as the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveler (GRT) communities, to COVID-19, with increased risks of infection, mortality, and various socio-economic impacts [ 5 ]. However, the nomadic lifestyle's outdoor exposure could potentially offer health benefits, including physical activity encouragement, psychological stress relief, recovery from memory impairment and concentration problems, enhanced sense of well-being, and improved social cohesion [ 6 ].…”